Creative Bioinformatics Consultants

What Role does Bioinformatics Play in Agriculture?

Bioinformatics has many uses. It may be a new field in the world of science but that doesn’t make it any less necessary anywhere biotechnology is required. For the most part, its use has been restricted to the field of medicine. Nonetheless, it has also introduced wonderful results in agriculture. After all, microorganisms are crucial to the success, or otherwise, of any agricultural practice and project.

So, what does bioinformatics contribute in agriculture?

Crops

Plants experience evolutionary changes periodically. When this happens, the changes help to conserve the plants’ genomes. However, it is often difficult to obtain the necessary information from this. The best way of getting whatever piece of information that can help manage crops well is by using bioinformatics tools. The tools help to map these plants’ genome. What do these tools teach about food plants?

They provide insight on the plants’ proteins

They provide insight on the plants’ various expressions too

Insect Resistance

Science and technology has made it easier to make more plants insect resistant. Through bioinformatics, researchers are now able to map certain crops’ genomes and use the appropriate genes for incorporating into the plants. This way, they develop plants that can resist insect infestations more successfully. Thus far, this technology has helped make the following plants insect resistant:

Corn

Potatoes

Cotton

Improved Nutritional Quality

The purpose of agriculture is to grow crops that are full of nutrients. Improved technology has made it possible to make plants more nutritious. Bioinformatics tools make it easier to change plants’ genome, which then increases their nutritional value. For example, the technology has enabled food scientists to increase Vitamin A level in some plants, such as rice. This way, they have reduced the rate at which blindness occurs in people around the world.

Drought Resistant Crops

It’s also worth noting that bioinformatics has enabled food scientists to introduce crops capable of growing well in drought-stricken places. These crops can now do well when planted in poor quality soils. Places around the world that have suffered lack of food due to these harsh conditions can now thrive safe in the knowledge that their farmers will grow enough food for everybody.

In summary, bioinformatics has played a huge role in crop improvement. It has furnished scientists with tools they can use to obtain accurate genomics data. Plants are the foundation of life on Planet Earth. They produce the oxygen that every human breathes and needs to be alive. Over the years, it has been difficult to improve certain aspects of the wonderful life-supporting crops. Bioinformatics has changed